Mayoral candidate Randall Williams congratulates Nancy McFarlane Tuesday night. Photo by Chris Cioffi.
Nancy McFarlane will be moving from her council seat to the mayor’s seat after garnering 61 percent of the vote, beating out Republicans Billie Redmond and Randall Williams, who had 29 percent and 9 percent, respectively.
McFarlane, who was celebrating at Tir Na Nog, said the win was overwhelming and humbling. “To know that the citizens have trusted me is overwhelming and reassuring,” she said after a reception of cheers, bag pipes and flashbulbs.
McFarlane has sat on the city council as a representative for District A since 2007. She announced her candidancy for mayor shortly after Mayor Charles Meeker made it public that he would not seek a sixth term. Meeker, who has been Raleigh’s mayor for the past decade, recently endorsed McFarlane for mayor.
Meeker was at Tir Na Nog in support of her. “It appears to be an outstanding victory for McFarlane,” he said prior to the official announcement.
McFarlane, the owner of pharmaceutical company MedPro Rx Inc. said that planning for the Raleigh’s continued growth was one of her major campaign issues.
Of her loss, political newcomer Billie Redmond said, “I ran a great race, there were a lot of good ideas and I’m going to wake up tomorrow and I’m going to go to work.”
Redmond, who was endorsed by the Wake County Republican Committee, continued to spend time with her supporters at the Contemporary Arts Museum where she heard the news. When asked if she would consider running again, Redmond said, “That’s sort of like asking a woman whether she wants to have another baby right after she gives birth – you have to wait till the pain subsides a bit. I don’t have any thoughts on that right now.”
Randy Stagner will take McFarlane’s District A council seat. He beat out Gail McKoy Williams with 58 percent of the vote.
Drew St. Claire, Andrew Mayo and Chris Cioffi contributed to this story.
